Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da sverget kong Sidkia i hemmelighet for Jeremia og sa: «Så sant Herren lever, Han som skapte vår sjel, så skal jeg ikke drepe deg, og jeg skal ikke gi deg over til dem som ønsker livet av deg.» Da sa Jeremia til Sidkia: «Dette sier Herren, Hærskarenes Gud, Israels Gud: ‘Hvis du virkelig overgir deg til babylonerkongens ledere, da skal sjelen din få leve. Da vil ikke denne byen bli satt fyr på og brenne opp. Både du og og folket ditt skal få leve. Men hvis du ikke overgir deg til babylonerkongen, da skal denne byen bli overgitt i kaldeernes hånd. De skal sette fyr på den og brenne den opp, og du skal heller ikke slippe unna.’»
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, King Zedekiah promises Jeremiah in private that he will not harm him or hand him over to those who want to hurt him. Zedekiah swears by the living God that made their souls.
Explained for Children
Imagine if your friend promised you they wouldn't let anyone hurt you, even if others wanted to. That's what the king did for Jeremiah. He said, 'I promise I won't hurt you or let anyone else do it,' and he made this promise using the most important thing in his life.
Historical Background
This verse comes from the Book of Jeremiah, written by the prophet Jeremiah in the 6th century BC. It was written during the time of the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem. The audience was the people of Judah, and the cultural setting was one of political turmoil and divine judgment.
Living It Out Today
Today, this verse can teach us about the importance of keeping promises, especially when those promises involve protecting others from harm. For instance, if you promise a friend you will keep their secret, you should honor that promise just like King Zedekiah honored his promise to Jeremiah.
Zedekiah made this promise to Jeremiah to assure him of his safety and loyalty, despite the political pressures and threats against Jeremiah.
What does it mean when Zedekiah says, 'As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul'?
This phrase means Zedekiah is swearing by God's life and the act of creation, emphasizing the seriousness and binding nature of his promise.
How does this verse relate to leadership?
This verse highlights the importance of a leader's integrity and the impact of their promises, showing that a true leader protects those under their care.
What can we learn about trust from this verse?
We learn that trust is built on the foundation of keeping one's word, especially in difficult circumstances, as Zedekiah did with Jeremiah.